Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-18

QrapofY or Gamers Naturalization, L
mean, but awfully pretty-and a real
splendid basque, with satin vest and
gilt buttons; only 500. tell you, Aunt
Pratt, it was swell and no mistake;
but couldn't afford soft fannels after
that"
sIs it thick dress?" queried Aunt
Pratt
"No, not SO very; not so thick as this
shop dress; but don't mind that. l
amt cold-blooded.
'.And your shoes, are they thick?"
sob, they're just cheap boots; thick
soles do cost so. My best ones are
French kid with lovely high heels.
They can't have thick soles"
"And have you got warm petit
coat?'
mercy! I don't want to be all
bumped up with things. I've got an
old felt skirt and striped cambria for
every day, and four white ones,
trimmed with edging."
Aunt Pratt shook her head.
ga hole in the bag! A hole in the
bag" she said sadly.
"Why, what upon"-but a fit of
coughing stopped the words and left
Dotty's chest so sore she did not finish
her question.
She was SO i'll that night a doctor
was sent fora young man round the
corner, just beginning practice, there
fore cheaper than man of experience.
He at once proceeded to blister his pa
tent and give her anthony. Low de-
lirium set in, and for six weeks Lofty
was unable to leave her bed, and for a
month more she could not 90 to work
Bills came in to twice the amount of
the blue dress's price, and could not
be paid.
ooh, what hole in the bag!' sighed
Aunt Pratt.
When Lofty was q little better, her
father came in one noon with hand
bill given to him in the street-a fam
ing advertisement of the BLACK
Crook" performance
''Say, Lou, don't you want to 90 to
this tonight? It's month O. Sundays
since we've had lark; let's CO." he
said, tossing the play bill into his
wife's lap.
''Oh, pa" screamed Idalla. stake me.
Oh, do! Now won't youp"
"'N'me too" screamed Davy, who
had a hoarse cold.
''Oh, shut upr' snapped Potter. 81
don't want two babies taggin' at my
heels. Somebody's got to stay with
Lott"
''Why; there's Aunt Pratt" said Ida
|'Maybe she'd like to go; would you
Aunty?" asked Potter, blandly. He
had a mind to keep the right side of
woman with ''means.
''Mer' said the old lady, with stern
reproof in her voice and face 'Me
go to such place? No, indeed"
''Well, well. everybody to their
mind. [ like a bit of fun first rate,
now and then. We 90 quite consider
able, first and last; a body must be
amused"
go, fatherr put in Mrs. Potter,
urged by the whispered teasing and
cross faces of Ida and Davy, ''do take
them children along! Ida hasn't been
nowhere since Lott was took sick; and
Davy's only a boy. Let him have a
good time while he can; his troubles
will come fast enough before long
Now, do let 'em 90"
''Wel1, | guess they can. Lott won't
SO at night he came home with four
tickets to the performance, bag of
peanuts and a paper of candy, and
they set out to enjoy themselves. Tom
had announced at noon that he was
''goin' to take his girl"
Aunt Pratt groaned in spirit can
other hole in the bag, and a big onep
she said to herself.
When would the doctors bill and the
debts at the drug store and the grocers
ever be paid?
Aunt Pratt had always lived in the
country and been honest. She had no
experience OF the class who crowd our
theaters, minstrel show halls and cir
cuses, who buy cheap finery and ex-
pensive, poor beer and bad butter, but
never pay their rent or lay up one
penny III all their lives.
As spring came on Aunt Pratt no.
ticed one day that Potter looked dis
gusted with his dinner, and Lofty left
hers untasted No wonder! Aunt
Pratt could not eat it herself. The po-
tatoes were poor and boiled to a wat
cry, insipid mass; the calves liver
fried to black, leathery substances;
the bread old and dry, and the turnips
rank and unsayory.
Il say, pa" exclaimed Tom, we're
all gettin spring poor. I don't care
hang for my vittles. Let's have
dozen Of lager, that'u set us all up"
SO the lager came, was used up, and
another dozen ordered, and then an
other; but the appetites did not i'm
prove-nor the cooking. At last the
beer seller refused to fetch more, ; I'M
less what he had brought them was
paid for.
ooh, dear! Oh, dear!'' sighed Aunt
Pratt. What hole in the bag."
Next day she said to her niece:
''Lowisy, will you let me buy and
cook the dinner to morrow? TIlmake
you present Of all the yittles get,
if you will.
Louisa consented, much astonished,
and Aunt Pratt came back from mar
ket with two pounds of solid beef-a
coarse piece, it is true, but cheap and
fresh. ShJ bought few onions, a
carrot and one small stalk of celery,
the whole cost 36 cents Then she Dre-